Process and apparatus for distilling.



\ A. B. msm. PROCESS A ND APPARATUS FOR OISTILLING.`

W ',APPLICATloNmlLED 11.15.1913. 4 l

' PatentedSept. 3,1918.

nunon is. roeren, or wnsrriism'i'oi, nisfriuc'r or eoilmia.'

riioc'r'issm arrasar-Us ron Drs'riLLiNe.:

To all whom it may concern Be it known that' I, ARTHUR B.. Fos'rmi, a

citizen of the United States, residing at i. pressed, the power used for compressing the lgases is transformed (at least in part) `into eat; and conversely, when gases expand while performing work, the temperature ofV the gases is lowered. The compressionv of the gases requires ower, and all the owcr may be regained, t eoretically, upon t e expansion o the gases. As a matter of fact, however, a part of the energy is alwa s lost, through friction, lack of perfect e ciency, etc.

It has been pro osed, in distillationto eva orate the liqui under reduced pressure, an atmospheric pressure, but here the suction in the still lowers the temperature, which re uires the application of additional heat; an compressing the gases into the con'- denser4 system generates heat which requires additional co ing, and consequently the heat and cold are generated at the'wrong places. My plan is to* transfer by the mode and devices ereinafter to be described, this heat and cold, and to thereby utilizethese.

,Another feature consists in developing and utilizing the energy represented by ythe compression of: the gases, when the/ same pass from high to' low pressureil inA sucha manner as to furnish power, w ichpower may be. used as .a part of the power necesa sary for producing the gas pressure on the one hand, and the partial vacuum on ,the other.hand,.or this power may be used for any desired urpose.

As a speci c example, the invention ma Ibe applied to the recovery of volatile so f specification of Letters Patent'. Applicatie med rer'eary is, isis. semi nu. nasse.

to condense the gases under supersV and are carredfotliereh. l V s Any suitable gas can e:\',1sed,'air 4will i answer in case 4 carbon tetrachlorid recovered,while if gasoleneis being recof'` ered it will not do` to useair, onaccount ci;

-the explosiveiiess ofy theimistures `of and gasolene vapors. Nitrogen,' or chimney vents-from solvent-extracted materials, e. g. the recovery of benzene, carbon tetra-chlorid, etc., from the resscake left after extracting cotton see oil from crushed and pressed cotton seed, by means of solvents.

Referring to the accompanyin drawing, which illustrates diagrammaticay the apparatus in accordance' with my invention;

Figure 1 representing an elevation of the apparatus, partly in section, and Fig. 2 representing a plan (the hopper being omitted) of the same.

Theevaporating vessel 1, provided with a hopper 2, havin a-vacuum sealed inlet 3 and also prefere ly provided with agitating means, e, g., travelin belts 4, which transport the materialfto t e right where it drops onto other belts 5 which4 carryit toward the left.} g These beltsmay run on small rollers operated in any suitable manner, and both belts and rollers'preferably extend the entire widthof the vessel.

l Patented-sepas, 191s.

This is merely .oneofmaxiy suitable means for spreading out the-material to oii'er a large surface lfor eva oratin of the solvent, by contact withthe ot ses f" Thematerial, -on reac ng 'the bottom ofthe chamber 'ma-y bediscliarged by a condouble gates 9 the gate 10.ing open, or y may be passed again, `or several timesthrough e vessel 1 untilfreed'frointhe inletpend ofthe casing 6, which vacuum asfthe #vessel-1. i

During thev 'passage of fthe material through the vessel it is. subjected to the ac solvent to any desire extent', as uitable cony. veyer for" carrying the'inaterial back tothe,

no] Y tion 0f 8. heated' current of air: 01,- bther in a partial vacuumand because of the heatand vacuum the 'solvent vaporizes readily,

and the vapors `thereof mix a be preferable-.to use with m lelie-holding' material, cniiiiney gases, sbp'uld V with p the gas to directly heat preferably be washed and filtered or otherwise treated to remove soot, ue dust, etc.

It' is obvious that the as must also be something that will not injuriously a'e'ct the solid material, e. cotton seed meal, for the pur ose for w ich it 1s to be ultimately use e. g., cattle feed, fertilizer, etc.

To roduce this vacuum and the gas current, provide a pump 12 which draws the gas laden with vapors from the upper art of the vessel 1, through lpe 11, (whlc 1s preferably rovided wit a burlap screen, across its inset end, to prevent solid matter from being carried along by the gas cur- 1ent,) and force it into the first heat interchanger. The action of the pum further heats the gases and vapors, and t ese then pass around the pipes of the one or more heat interchangers 13, which may be of any suitable construction. These gases may then be further cooled, for example by the Vrefrigeratng coils 14 in the condenser chamber 15, which may be provided w1th one or more baflies 16, to cause the gases to take a tortuous course.

The result of the cooling and hi her pressure is to cause the whole, or a arge part of the vapors of solvent to condense, in the heat int'erchangers and in the refrlgerated chamber4 15,

The solvent collected in the heat interchanger and in the refrigerated chamber may be drawn olf, intermittently or continuously through suitable pipes 24 for this purpose, connected to the bottoms of these vessels.

The gases deprived of their vapors" pass out through the turbine 17, which causes a still further reduction of the temperature,

and also thereby developing power to beused for any purpose, e. g. a part of the power necessary for operatlnglthe pum 12. The cold gases pass -through t e tubes o the heat interchanger and become heated up thereby, nearly to the temperature 1n the vessel 1, andl after leaving the vheat interchangers, pass through the lpipe 18, into rthe heat exchanger 19, where t ey ma be still further heated by all or a part o the hot exhaustfiuid from the engi-ne operating the pump12, which fluid maybe the exhaust -gasesofan internal combustion engine used for4 operating said pump, or may be the exhaust steam from a steam engine used for operating said pump.

In place of this or in addition to this the 'said fluid, or a lpart thereof, may be used t e vessel 1, by means of the jacket 20.

Thus it will be seen that the gas circulates,

through vessel 1, pump12, around the tubes ofthe heat interchangers 13, through refrigerated chamber 15, turbine 17, through the tubes of heat interchangers 13, thence through supplemental heater 19, and back into vessel 1 through pipe 2 1.

Thus -it will be seen that'th'e v'solvent may be recovered by use of a minimum amount of heat and power.

In case we are working for the fractional distillation of such product as troleum, the vessel 1 will preferably be magg in shape of a rotatin cy inder, provided interiorly with scoops, b ades, or buckets and also rovided at its end with the gas inlet and outlet pipes, 21 and 11.

The pump 12 and engine or turbine 17 may be of -any known or desired'constructlon.

It is obvious that allarts of the system must be gas tight, andall parts will prefer ably be surrounded by suitable heat insulating jackets (not shown, as these are' well known). rIhe air locks 3 and 9 are of any preferred construction, and of the two gates 3, one is not opened until the other is closed, as is well known in the art.

I claim 1. A cyclical process of distilling a volatile substance which comprises (1) subject* ing a moving material containing said volatile substance to a counter current of gas at a pressure materially below atmospheric and at a temperature suilicient to induce vaporization of said substance (2) then raising the pressure of the Agas carrying the vaporized substance and lowering the temperature suliciently to condense at least some of the vaporized substance, (3) then lowering the pressure of the gas, (4) causing an interchange of heat umts between the compressed gas containing the vaporized substance and the cooler gas of lower pressure, at least a part of the heat of compression of said compressed gas being thereby transferred to said cooler gas, before the latter comes again into contact with material containing the volatile substance, and utiliz-v ing the power developed by the gas in passing from high to low pressure.

. 2. A cyclical rocess of distilling a volatile substance w ich comprises subjecting'a moving material containing said volatile substance to a counter current of gas at a low pressure and at a temperature sulicient to lnduce vaporization of said substance, then raising the pressure of the gas carryin the vaporized substance, transferring heat rom sald gases, without previouscoohng thereof, to gas about to enter -said vaporization step,

and lowering the temperature of the comf ll5 vent, then raising -the the volatile substance, and power developed by the gas in to low pressure.

temperature suilicient to induce vaporizaton of said substance, then' raising the pressure the vaporized substance .V and lowering its temperature suiicie'ntllyto ofjthe gas carrying condense at ast some of the vaporized substance, then lowering the ressure ofthegas, 6 causin an interchange o atleast a portion of the eat produced by compression and Vat least a portion of the sensible heat the liot compressed gas, between such gas containing the vaporizeai substance Aand the cooler of p lower pressure, before the latter cornes again into contact with material containing the volatile substance, and utilizing the power developed by the gas iii passing from high to lw'preure, as a part of the power necessary for Vcompressing 'the gas and vapors leavi fthe vaporizin'gl vessel-and removing .the vo atile substance condensed in the cold- 4,' A-cyclical of distilling a vola- :0 tile solvent which comprises' agitating a material containing the same while subject-4 such material to a-current of gas at-a low pressure and at a temperature sufficient `to induce vaporization of mid volatile solcarrying the v apor of heat is generated therein, and lowerin its l temperature sufliciently to condense at some of the vapors, then lowering the pressure of the gas, causing an interchange of heat units. between the so-heated compressed of lower pressure, before the latteragain comes into contact with the material containing the volatile solvent, and utilizing the powerdeveloped by the gas in passing from high to low pressure.

r 5. A cyclical process of distillng a volatile solvent which comprises agitating a material containing the same and subjecting the same to a current of gas at a low pres sure and'at a f perature sulce'nt to induce vaporization-o'f said volatile Isolvent, then raising the pressure ofthe gas carryii -the vapor of the solvent whereby heat is e oped therein and lowern 'its temperature sulliciently to condense at east some of 4,the

vapor, then lowering the pressure of the,

s,caus1ng an interchange of heat units tween the comp gas containing the vapor while still carrying at least a part of the heat developled in said prefssure-raising o ower presoperation, and t e cooler sure, before the latter again 'comes into' contact with the material containing the volaressure of the sie solvent- Wher;

containing the vapors and the cooler.

d-Qva" 1,1m "fichier j and einem V Schot exhaust angle Plantare l l 'gi-id v51 Solv l i offthgi i carry nel. a einen a knyerlii 'the interesl VelOPd by the: tov-low .resuj .esem olwlef leaving the vener-ima heating thel h"- contacted'an byiieans from. thepressile'efufo4 ii removing the. volatile silbstan' boh in the cold-p'lfess`n.1' `i e"s'tagg`\,.-`^4

'1; A cycl'ca dfn-lana tile: solvent which silbjec Aiig agitated material i current of gas'ir'icapable o in'iiri fectng said volatile solvent, while'at a' sure materially '-belowg atm'os Vli'eric' a a teni raturesuicient to in, uce vapo y tion o said volatile solvent, therrfraismgI the pressure of. the p carryn- `tle..-vapbr hf. the solvent whe y heat is eveloped there` n-and loweringl its temperature sniiicently to condense at easrsome of the upon-then lowering the pressureV of the causing an interchange of heatilts between the' 'so heated compressed gas containing the 'vapor and cooler gasof lower.pressure,` before ythe latter again comes into contact with the inateria1 containing the volatile solvent, ,and utilizing the power developed by the gas in passing from, high to low ress'ure. f 8.' A cyclical process of istilling a volatile solvent which comprises subjectingjan agitated .material containingthe same to a current of gas incapable o ih'urously affooting either said volatile laovent or the material with which it is associated `at a low pressure andat a temperature suicient" to induce vaporization of said volatile solvent, then raising the pressure of the gas carrying the vapor of the solvent thereby adding an increment of heat thereto, and

irs 'i unsV ' lowering its temperature suflicientl toc'ondense at. least some of the vapor, t en lowering thepressure of thev gas, causing an interchange of heat units between thencompressed gas containing the vapor and containing said increment of heat, vand the cooler gas of lower pressure, before the latter again comes into contact with the material containing thevolatile solvent, 4and utilizing the power developed bythe gas in passing lfrom high to low pressure.

9. A cyclical process of distilling avolatile solvent which comprises subjecting an agitated material contalning the sameto a current of gas incapable of in]ur1ouslyaf fecting either said volatile solvent or the material with which it is associated at a low pressure and at a, temperature suilicient to-induce vaporization of said volatile solvent, thenraising the pressure of the gas carrying the vapor of the solvent .and lowering its temperature sufficiently to condense at least some of the vapor, then lowering the pressure of the gas, causing an interchange of heat units between the compressed gas containing the vapor directly from the compression step, and the cooler gas of lower pressure, before the latter againcomes into contact with the material containing the volatile solvent, andutilizing the power developed by thel gas i passing from high to low pressure as a part of the power necessary for compressing the gas and vapor leaving the vaporizing vessel, and further heating the gas with which said materlal 1s contacted and by means of hot exhaust fluid from the pressure producing means.

4 10. A cyclical process of distilling a volatile solvent which comprises subjecting an agitated material containing the same to a current of gas incapable of injuriously af,- fectin material with which it is associated, at a pressure materially below atmospheric and at a temperature sufficient to induce vapori-Y zation of said volatile solvent, then raising the pressure of the gas carrying the Vapor of the solventl and lowering its temperature sufficiently to condense at least some of the vapor, then lowering the pressure of. the gas,

causing an interchange of heat units between the compressed gas containing the vapor and carrying the heat increment developed in the pressure-raising step, and the cooler gas of lower pressure, beforethe latter again comes into contact with the material containing the volatile solvent, and utilizin the ower developed by the gas in passing rom liigh to low pressure and as a part of the power necessary for compressing the gas` and vapor leaving the vaporizing vessel.

11. An apparatus for distilling a volatile substance comprising the combination of a vaporizing vessel provided with a gas inlet and a gas and vapor outlet, a materlal inlet either said volatile solvent or vthe namens and outlet,l heating means located in opera- 'tive relation with lsaid vessel, -a pump for causing a current of gas through said vessel, a condenserprovided with a as and vaporinlet and a gasoutlet, and wit means ffor withdrawing tle'y condensate from said lcausing a. current of gas through said vessel,

and for causingan mcrease of pressure in the gases, a condenser provided with a gas and vapor inlet and a gas outlet and with means for withdrawing the condensate from said condenser, cooling means in operative relationtherewith, a gas expanding means capable of'converting the energy of compression of the gases into mechanical power, and a heat interchanger arranged to effect a transfer of heat units between the gases leaving the pump and gas of lower pressure i and temperature leaving the expanding means, and means for reintroducing the gas from the expanding means, after passing through said heat interchanger, into said vaporizing vessel.

13. An apparatus for distilling a volatile substance comprising the combination of a vacuum vaporizing vessel provided'with a 105 gas inlet and a gas and vapor outlet, a material inlet and outlet, heating means located in operative relation with said vessel,

a pump forcausing a current of gas through said vessel, and for causing an increase of pressure in the gas, a condenser provided with gas and vapor inlet and a gas outlet, and with means for withdrawing the condensate from said condenser, cooling 'means in operative relation therewith, a gasy ex- 1 15 panding means capable of converting the A energy of compression of, the gas into me chamcal power, and a heat interchanger arranged to effect a transfer of heat units between the gases leaving the ump and the l gases of lower pressure` and) temperature leaving the expanding means, and means ,for further heating and reintroducing the gases from the expanding means, after passing through said heat interchangers into vaporizing vessel. l A

14. An apparatus for distilling a volatile substance comprising the combination of a jacketed vaporizing vessel provided with a gas inlet and a gas and vapor outlet, a ma- 13o t1le substance which comprises sub]ecting' autilization of ypower `between the high pressure and low pressure stages, the herein de-.

22; A cyclical process of distilling a'volamaterial containing said volatile substance toacurrent of gas at a low pressure and at a temperature suflicient to induce vaporization of said substance, then raising the pressure of the gas carrying the vaporized sub` stance and lowering the temperature thereof sufficiently to condense at least some of the vaporized substance, then lowering the pressure of the gas, causing an interchange of heat units between the compressed gas containing the vaporized substance and the cooler gas of lower pressure, before the latter comes again into contact with material containing the volatile substance, and utilizing 4the power developed `bythe gas in passing from high to low pressure, and further heating the gas with which the material is to be contactedl by means of the hot exhaust Huid from the pressure-producing means and removing the volatile substance condensed in thc cold-pressure stagey 23. A cyclical process of distilling a volatile substance whichl comprises subjecting a moving material containing said volatile substance to a counter current of gas at a low pressure and at a temperature sufficient to induce vaporization of said substance, then raising the pressure of the gas carryL ing the vaporized substance and lowering the temperature thereof suiiiciently to condense at least some of the vaporizedsubstance, wherebythe temperature of said mix ture is raised, thereafter lowering the pressure'of the gas, causing an interchange of heat units between the compressed gas containing the vaporizedV substance directly after the compression step, and the-cooler gas of lower pressure, before the latter comes again into contact with material containing the volatile substance, and utilizing .the

power developed by the gas in passing fromigh to low pressure asa part of the power r -prising said vaporV and heating the las withw ich the material is. to be contacte by '-rneanso the hot exhaust fiuid from thed pressureroducing* means,

and lremoving the volati e 'substance con.-`

densedinV the coldf' ressure. stage. f

24. A-'proc'ess w lich com rises subjecting.

a material containing `a vo atile ingredient to 'aaeurrent of gas incapable of :injuring `suchmfolatile ingredient Vat the hi hest temperatures employed in any sta e o the process,-fsaid step beingfperforme .atflow pres-v sure? and at a temperature' sufficiently e1e' vatedto at least partially vaporize said ingredient, compressing the mixturecom-` 'prising said Vapor and gas, whereby the temperature thereof is raised, effecting an interchange of heat between said so-heated` gas-and-vapor mixture, and a cooler expanded gas about to enter the first step, further cooling the said compressed gas-andvapor mixture, to cause the condensation of` at least a material part of thefvapor of said volatile ingredient, and removing the condensed ingredient.

25. A- process which com rises subjecting a material containing a vo-atile ingredient to a current of gas incapable of injuring such volatile ingredient at the hi hest temperatures employed in any sta e o the process, said step being performe at low pressure and at a temperature sufficiently elevated to at least partially vaporize said ingredient, compressing the mixture comgas whereby the temperature thereof is raise effecting an interchange of heat between said so-heated gas-.and-vapor mixture, andA a cooler .ex.

panded gas about to enter the first step, further cooling the said compressed gas-andvapor mixture, yto cause thefcoiidensatio'n of at least a material part of the vapor of said.- volatile ingredient, and further heating the gas about to enter the rst ste of the process, by the hot exhaust fluid o the compressor operating means.

si ed at washington, D. c., .this afc teent day of February, 1913.y

ARTHUR B. FOSTER. Witnesses: 4 Y `-M. D. WATERS, y

"l f-HENR? c; .Emmi 

